Traffic recorder for telephone systems



A -5, 1931. M. SCHWARTZ TRAFFIC RECORDER FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS "OriginalFiled July 12, 1922 g s t s t 1 1 w W %o W ,-IWP v MEZ'LEEZ SBh'EETTZ'Aug. 4, 1931. MscHwAR'rz 1,817,324

' nuns naconnrm ron TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. I

Original Filed July 12, .1922 2 Shuts-Sheet z Patented Aug. 4, 1931fUNITED- STATES: PA'r-ENT mm MICHAEL SCHWARTZ, or CHICAGO,xnmnorspAssrcnon, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro

Auromnrrc'mnc'rmcgmc, or omcaco rnmno s, A oo ronA'rIoNor DELAWAREtrunks m ma RECORDER. FOR TELErHoNE'sYsrEMs' Original application filedJuly 12, ieaase iai No.

Divided and this application filed The present invention relatesingeneral to traffic H recorders for telephone systems. Morespecifically, the invention is concerned with devices which record thetrafiic on extending between automatic switches,

, An object of the invention is to provide a recording device forregistering the number of times atrunk line is seized and then releasedwithin'a very short interval, together with means for registering thenumber of timesthe trunk'line is used for a. longer interval'as forasuccessfulcall to a called line.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide adevice for registeringthetotal length of time the trunk line is in use.

Another object of the invention is to register the number of times allthe trunks in a group become busy, and alsovto record the total lengthof time thatjthis all trunkjbusy period lasts. f '1 tillanotherobjectoftheinvention is to provide means for at all timesshowing'the number ofsimultaneous connections over this group of trunks under observation.

. :A ifiurther object of the invention is to provide an improved timingdevice, whereby the recording mechanism may becontrolled at variousspeeds. I v 1 1 The various features above mentioned,except thoserelating to the timing device are claimedjin my application Serial No.574,494,

filed July 12, 1922, patented May 1, 1928, Patent No. 1,668,541, ofwhich this application is a division; 7 I

, Referring now to the drawings, comprising Figs. land 2, there isshownsufiicient apparatus involvingthe invention to enable the same tobe readilydesc-ribed and understood. Fig. lshows the: trafiic recordingapparatus, while I Fig; 2 .show-s the improved timingdevice. 1

"Referring now more particularly to Fig;

1, in the upper portion' of the drawing, designated by the reference.character IE, is an vautomatic selectori switch of the usual Strowgerty'pejthe construction and circuits ofwhich are we'llunfderstood." v

, AtAis indicated arecor-ding milli-ammeter for registering the'total'number of simul- 574-',494; Patent No. 1,668,541, dated May 1,4928;

April 2, 1925. Serial No. 29,04;

taneouscalls in the group of trunksunder observation; This milli-ammetermaybe of any well=known or desired-type The traflic recording deviceproper consists ofthe-equipment designated by" the reference charactersM and M. The equipment shown at M consists merely of a group of meters100, 101, and 102, which record the required data. The equipment shownat M consists of two meters 88 and'89, a group of relays, and asimplerotary minor switch S. This equipment controls the operation ofthe meters 100, 101, 102 and also the meters 88 and'89. The equipmentshown at M may be used alone without the equipment M, if-it is de-'sired to merely register the total number of 'callsover'a trunk line,and the total length oiftimethe trunk is-held in use. In the pres-' entinstance, it will be assumed that it is desired to record the traffic ona group of ten trunks. Inthis case, each trunk line will have'individualto it apparatus such as M' "and M. Thus, theequipment M and M" isindividualtothe trunk linecomprising conductors 10-12, inclusive,iwiththe exception of the meters 89 and 102. The meter 89 is common to theten trunk lines of the: group and serves to register when all trunks"become busy. The meter 102 is likewise common to-the ten trunk linesand registers cumulatiyely the total length of time all ten trunks arein use.

The recording apparatus including the equipment M and M may be usedtorecord the trafiic on a trunk line extendingfrom a 8 line switch to afirst selector, a selector trunk line, or in fact, any kind of trunkover which it is desired to recordthe trafiiic. I

fIn Fig.2, there is shown the'tirning mec anism. This is common to allthe trailic recording devices of the exchange, and com prisesessentially aconstantly op eratingtiming device P and two rotaryswitches C and S. The rotary switch S is of very simple construction andcomprises wipers l80'and l81,anoperatingmagnet 1'68jand a release magnet169. The rotary switch C, whose wipers move ina forward direction only,'is

of the same general mechanical construction as the well-known rotaryline switches.

Having briefly described the apparatus shown in the drawings, a detaileddescription of its operation will now be given. F or this purpose itwill be assumed that the trunk line comprising the conductors 10-12inclusive, is seized by another selector switch or by a line switchunder the control of a calling subscriber. Immediately upon thesubscribers line being extended to the line relay 15 of the selector E,this relay is energized. Upon operating,- relay 15, at armature 20,closes the circuit of the slow acting relay 16. The latter relay, uponenergizing, at armature 21 prepares the operating circuits of theselector E,-and at armature 22 places ground upon the release trunkconductor 11, thereby establishing a holding circuit for the precedingswitch or switches.

The calling subscriber may now operate his calling device in accordancewith the next digit in the desired number. By this operation a series ofinterruptions is produced in the circuit of the line relay 15 of theselector E, which deenergizes a plurality of times in response thereto.At each retraction of the armature 20 of the line relay 15, an impulseof current is sent to the vertical magnet 46 in series with the slowacting relay 17. The vertical magnet 46 operates to raise the shaft ofthe switch carrying the wipers 35-37, inelusive, step by step until thesaid wipers are brought opposite the proper level of bank contacts. Theslow acting relay 17 is energized in series with the vertical magnet,and maintains its armature attracted throughout the vertical movement ofthe switch. Upon the first vertical step of the switch shaft, the relay17 being now energized, a circuit is completed for the stepping relay18. Upon operating, relay 18 establishes a locking circuit for itself atits upper armature, and at its lower armature prepares a circuit for therotary magnet 44. Shortly after the end of the vertical movement, theslow acting relay 17 deenergizes to close the circuit of the rotarymagnet 44. The magnet 44 operates to advance the switch wipers intoengagement with the first set of bank contacts in the selected level,and also opens the locking circuit ofthe stepping relay whichdeenergizes, opening the circuit of the rotary magnet which deenergizesalso. If the trunk line with which the switch wipers are now inengagement is busy, the stepping relay 18 will again be energized fromground upon the test contact of the associated trunk line. Helay 18,upon operating, completes a locking circuit for itself and also closesthe rotary magnet circuit. The rotary magnet operates to advance thewipers of the switch into'engagement with the next set of bank contactsand opens the circuit of the stepping relay. The stepping relaydeenergizes to open the circuit of the rotary magnet, which alsodeenergizes. The alternate operation of the re lay 18 and the rotarymagnet 44 continues until the wipers of the selector E are rotated intoengagement with a set of bank contacts associated with an idle trunkline, which, we will assume, are the bank contacts 3840, inelusive.lVhen the wipers 3537, inclusive, are brought into engagement'with'thisset of bank contacts, the rotary movement of the selector E ceases, andthe switching relay 19, which during the preceding operations of theswitch has been short circuited, is energized in series with thestepping relay l8. Relay 19 operates to extend the calling line over thewipers 35 and 87, bank contacts 88 and 40, trunk conductors 41 and 43,to the windings of the line relay of the seized switch.

The line relay of the selected switch im mediately energizes to closethe circuit of its associated slow acting release relay. The latterrelay operates to prepare the circuits of the seized switch foroperation, and to place ground upon the release trunk 42 to establish aholding circuit for the selector E and the preceding switch or switches.

The further extension of the connection in response to the remainingdigits dialled by the calling subscriber will take place in the usualmanner, and as this extension does not concern the present invention, itwill not be described herein.

It will be noted that as soon as the selector E is seized, ground isplaced upon the release trunk conductor 11, and a circuit is completedextending from this ground over conductor 13, terminal 50 of-therecording device M, through the resistance 60, and through the recordingmilli-a-mmeter A to battery. The current flowing through the resistance60 and the winding of the milli-ammeter affects the marking pen in theusual manner, causing the line, of the chart to be raised a suitabledistance to indicate another call. All the release trunks of the groupof trunks are connected through a resistance similar to 60 to therecording milli-ammeter, so that the reading of the milli-ammeter isalways proportionate to the number of simultaneous calls in the group.The resistances, such as 60, are sufliciently high so that there is nointerference by a ground potential being extended through theseresistances to the other releaseconductors of the trunks of the groupwhen one or more become busy. There is also another circuit completed bythe grounding of conductor 11, which extends from terminal 50 by way ofterminal 51, working coniii win dings of the meter magnet 1.00 tobattery. I Only the high resistance relay 7,0 is operated over theabovecircuit. Uponattracting its armatures, re-lay 70, at armature 76,closes a circuit which extends from ground :by way of the front contactof armature 76 and the said armature, terminals .57 and 54, workingcontact .ozfwspring 61 and the said; spring, through the winding of themeter magnet 101, conductor .112, to terminal 163 of the timing device.The terminall'63 of the timing device is being connected to battery onceevery second by the operation of the timing mechanism, .as will bedescribed, and consequently, the meter, magnet .101 is operated toregister every second, thus indicating by its cumulative registrationfor various calls the total length of time that the. trunk is held inuse. Further results of the energization of relay 70 are that atarmature .77 a circuit is prepared for the release magnet 74: of theminor switch -S- at armature 78 a oint .is

closed in a, certain chain circuit, which will be described, and atarmatnre79 the rotary magnet 73 ofthe rotary switch S is connect? edover conductor 110 to the terminal 164 of the timing device- Theterminal 1640f the timing device is being momentarilyhonnected tobattery once every half secnd,*a's will .appear later, and consequentlyanotor magnet 73 operates to advance the wiper :95

W. me

one step every, half second. ,At the end of four seconds, the wiper 95is advanced into engagement with the bank contact 96, whereupon thewinding-of the relay 7 .0 isshort circuited. By this operation relay 71and the meter magnet -100iareenergized. Upon opcrating, relay 71, at.armature 80, establishes a locking circuit for-itself exclusive'of thewiper 95, at armature 8l'cl'oses a new circuit for the meter 101, atthis-same armature-closes the circuit of the slow acting relay :93,* a tarmature 82 closes a circuit tor therelease magnet 74 of the minorswitch "S at arma tu-re 84 closes a new point in the chain relay abovementioned to provide against the deenergization of relay 70. and atarmature 85 transfers the circuit ozf-the'motor magnet73 of f-actthat itis short circu-ited, it will be made slow acting and maintain itsarmature attracted for a short interval after the short circuiting ofits winding, long enough to :al-

low the minor switch S to be released. The

. operation of the meter 100 serves to register one call, The slowacting z re'lay 93, upon operating, at armature 87 opens a point in thecircuit of relay 72, :and at the front contact of this armature preparesacircuit for the release magnet 74. As the motor'm agnet 7:3 .oftheminor switch S is now connected to the. terminal 165 of the timingdevice, it will be operatedonceevery .50 seconds. Each time the magnet 73 operates it advances the Wiper 95 one step. At the end of 500secon'ds, the wiper 95 will engage the bank con,-

tact '917, whereupon, if the connection is not terminated, the lamp Lwill :be lit. The operation of the lamp L 'serves to notify theattendant .at theexchange that the particular trunk having the equipment'M has been in use for a prolonged period of time The at-. tendant maynow examine this trunk to see if it is held duet-o some unnaturalcondition.

it will be remembered that the relay'7 1,

upon operating .closes a point in a certain chain circuit. ThisOlICllliZ' includes. contacts on other relays, such as relays '70 and71, in other equipment such as M which are associated with the othertrunks of the group. WVihen all the trunks otithe, group tee is causedto engage its working .contact.- .This armature and contact is includedin engagement with the bank contact 196, the

meter magnet 100 would not be operated. However, whenathe connectionisreleased,- the relay :7 0 will be :deenerg-ized,*while the minor switch5 will be on normal. The slow acting relay 7.2 is accordingly energizedinseries with there'lease magnet '74, :and operatesv at its armature 86to close the circuit of the -meter :88. Meter '88 operates once toregister .that the trunk 'line has only been used doriashort period oftime, less than-four seconds, while ma net 74 operates to restore theminor switch 1% to normal.

When the connectionis released, ground is removed 'from theltest.contacti39- with which the test'wviaper 3.6 :of the selector E isinengagemenhand these'lector E is released'in the usual :manner. iWhenground'is removed from the release trunk conductor 11, there lay 71inthe metering equipment M" is deenergized. y the deenergli'zation' ofrelay 71, the circuit oi' the' slow aotingrelay 93 is opened. Atter the.deenergizationott relay 71 an'd'jbefore the deenergization' of relay93, :a 'circuit is completed :for the release mag" net 74 over the pathextending from ground by way of front contact and armature 87, armature83 and its back contact, back contact and armature 77, off normal spring75 and its working contact, and through the Winding of the releasemagnet 74 to battery. Accordingly, the minor switch S is released.Another result of the deenergization of relay 71 is that the circuit ofthe timing meter 101 is opened at armature 81. The operation of theother contacts on the relay 71 serve merely torestore certain circuitsto normal.

Having described the operation of the metering device when the equipmentM is used, its operation when only the equipment M is used will now bedescribed. In this case, all the terminals 5054, inclusive, will beconnected together. Now, when ground is placed upon the release trunkconductor 11 at the time the trunk is seized, the meter magnet 100 isimmediately operated to register one connection, and the timing meter101 immediately starts to operate. The current flowing through theresistance 60, of course, causes the milli-ammeter A to register anotherconnection. lVhen the connection is released the selector E is restoredto normal and the equipment M ceases functioning.

The operation of the timing device shown in Fig. 2 will now bedescribed. The device P consists of a constantly operating pendulum 150,which is controlled by the relay 151. Its operation is as follows: lVhen the pendulum swings to the left, it closes the springs 150 and156', whereupon a circuit is completed for the relay 151. Uponenergizing, relay 151 attracts its armature 155, as the tension is taken011' spring 156, this spring operates and causes the pendulum spring 150to be forced to the left, thereby moving the pendulum to the right. Vhenthe pendulum swings to the right, it opens the circuit of the relay 151,which deenergizes, causing the spring 156 to assume its normal position.The same operation is then repeated. An additional result of theenergization of the relay 151 is that at armature 152 battery isconnected to the conductor 157, which extends through the steppingmagnet 167 of the rotary switch C to ground. The weight on the pendulum150 is so adjusted that the relay 151 is energized once every halfsecond. The terminal 164 of the timing device thus has battery placedupon it once every half second. The stepping magnet 167 is operated onceevery half second and serves to advance the switch wipers 175-178,inclusive, one step every half second. In the contact banks adapted tobe engaged by wipers 175 and 176, the contacts are tied togetheralternately. In the bank adapted to be engaged by wiper 17 5, the first,third, and other odd contacts are connected together and'to the terminal163. In the contact bank adapted to be engaged by wiper 176, the second,fourth, and other even contacts are connected to the terminal 163. Thewipers 175 and 176 are set opposite each other so that when the wiper175 engages the first bank contact, the wiper 176 leaves the twentyfifthbank contact. By this arrangement the conductor leading to the terminal163 is connected to battery once every two steps of the wipers 175 and176. In the contact bank adapted to be engaged by wiper 177, every fifthcontact is connected together and thence to the terminal 162. Thus, theterminal 162 is connected to battery once every two and one halfseconds. Only one contact in the bank adapted to be engaged by wiper 178is connected to the terminal 160. Another contact is connected to theterminal 161. Thus, the terminals 160 and 161 are connected to batteryonce every twenty-five seconds, that is, each fifty steps of the wiper178. The

space between the battery impulses at the terminals 160 and 161 isdetermined by the space between the bank contacts to which theseterminals are connected in the bank adapted to be engaged by wiper 178.In addition, the wiper 178 in engaging its twenty-fifth bank contact,closes the circuit of the stepping magnet 168 of the minor switch S.Magnet 168 operates to advance the wipers 180 and 181 one step everytwentyfive seconds. As alternate contacts in the bank of wiper 180 areconnected together and to the terminal 165, this terminal is connectedto battery once every fifty seconds. When the wipers 180 and 181 reachtheir tenth position, the next time the wiper 178 engages its twentiethbank contact, the slow acting relay 170 is energized. Relay 170 operatesto close the circuit of the release magnet 169. Magnet 169 operates torestore the minor switch S to normal, whereupon the same operation isrepeated. In this manner battery is connected to the terminal 164 everyone half second, to the terminal 163 every second, to the terminal 162every two and one-half seconds, to the terminals 160 and 161 everytwenty-five seconds, and to the terminal 165 every fifty seconds,whereby the traffic recording devices are controlled as has beendescribed. Terminals 160, 161 and 162 are provided to make it possibleto change the rate of operation of time controlled mechanisms of therecording equipment. These terminals may also be utilized in operatingother apparatus at the exchange requiring a different rate of operationthan could be obtained by connecting with any of'the terminals 163, 164,or 165.

What is claimed is: Y

1. In combination, an impulse conductor, a battery, a rotary switchhaving a plurality of wipers connected to said conductor, a set of bankcontacts accessible to each wiper, means for connecting said conductorto said battery periodically, a plurality of terminals,

means controlled over said impulse conductor for operating said switch,and circuit connections between said bank contacts and terminals wherebyeach of said terminals is connected to battery at different periodicintervals.

2. In combination, an impulsing conductor, automatic means for sendingtimed impulses over said conductor, a rotary switch having a pluralityof wipers and sets of bank contacts, a plurality of terminals wired todifferent contacts of said sets, and means controlled by said impulsesfor operating said switch to connect said conductor with each of saidterminals at different periodic intervals.

3. In combination, an impulsing conductor, automatic means for sendingperiodic timed impulses over said conductor, a rotary switch having aplurality of wipers and sets of bank contacts, a plurality of terminalsone of which is connected direct to said conductor while the others areeach, connected to different contacts of said sets, and means con-jtrolled over said conductor for operating said switch to connect saidconductor with each of said other terminals at different periodicintervals.

4. In combination, an impulsing conductor, automatic means for sendingperiodic timed impulses over said conductor, a rotary switch having aplurality of wipers and sets of bank contacts, a plurality of timingconductors one of which is directly connected to said impulse conductorwhile the others are connected to said bank contacts, and meanscontrolled by said impulses for operating said switch to connect saidimpuse conductor with said timing conductors at periocic intervalsdiflerent from the intervals on said impulse conductor and differentfrom each other.

5. In combination, a battery, an impulsing conductor, a plurality ofterminals one of which is directly connected to said conductor, a rotaryswitch with a plurality of wipers and corresponding sets of bankcontacts, different contacts of the said sets being wired to the otherof said terminals, respectively, means for periodically connecting saidbattery to said conductor, and means controlled over said conductor foroperating said switch for connecting said conductor to each of the otherof said terminals at different periodic intervals.

6. In combination, a conductor, means for connecting a source of currentto said conductor periodically, a step by step switch controlled oversaid conductor, two ter minals, a wiper on said switch connected to saidconductor, bank contacts associated with said wiper, multipleconnections from certain of said bank contacts to one of said terminals,another wiper and associated bank contacts, said other wiper being alsoconnected to said conductor, and multiple connections said terminals:

ifrom nonmorresponding contacts of the sec 'ond "se'ries jof-bankcontacts to theother'of In combinatiomwa conductor, means for connectinga source of current to said conductor periodically, a step by-stepswitch controlled over said condu'ctor, a secondswitch controlledby'said first switch, two

I terminals,-;a circuitincluding a wiper of the first switch only forconnecting said conductor with one of saidterminals, and a secondcircuit including wipersofboth switches for connecting said conductorwith the other of said terminals. l a

' 8. In combination, a conductor, means for;

connecting a source of current to said conductor periodically, astep-by-step switch controlled over said conductor, a second switchcontrolled by said first switch,-two

terminals, a circuit including a wiper ofthe first switch only forconnecting said conductor. with one of said terminals at-interval s, andv a second circuit including the wipers of bothswitche's forconnecting-said conductor withthe other ofsaid terminals at longerintervals. p

9. In combination, a primary impulse conductor, automatic means forsending periodic timed impulses over said conductor,

a rotary switch having a plurality of wipers A and sets of bank contacts,=a plurality of secondary impulse conductors, one of said 1 secondaryconductors being connected to said "impulseconductor" and said wipers,means con-trolled over saidprlmary impulses conductor for operating saidswitch, and-eonne'ctions between the otherof said secondary impulseconductors and said bank con-tacts, whereby the se ond or secondaryimpulse conductors receives periodic timed impulses which have twice theinterval of time between impulses as said first secondary im pulseconductor and the remaining of said secondary impulse conductors receiveperiodic timed impulses which vary in accord-;

ance with the number of multiple connections in said sets of bankcontacts.

10. In combination, a conductor, an impulse transmitting device forconnecting a source of current to said conductor periodi-f cally, astep-by-step switch controlled over said conductor, a wiper on saidswitch connected to said conductor, bank contacts associated with saidwiper, and two terminals, 7

one of said terminals being connected with said conductor and the otherof said te r minals being connectedto certain ofsaid bank contacts,whereby said other terminal is connected to said. conductor at-certamintervals during the operation of said switch;

11. The combination, with a source of pulsating current of a particularfrequency, of l a device for producing impulses of a differentfrequency, said device comprlsing an automatic sw tch, a stepping magnetfor sa d switch connected to the source of pulsating current, a wiperfor said switch also connected to said source of pulsating current, bankcontacts engaged by said wiper, and a conductor over which the pulses ofsaid different frequency are to be delivered which is connected to aplurality of said bank contacts, the number of bank contacts to whichsaid conductor is connected depending on the i 10 'fiquency desired.

' 12. In an impulse generating device, a conductor, means forperiodically connecting a source of current to said conductor, astep-by-step switch controlled over said conductor, two Wipers for theswitch each connected to said conductor, sets of bank contactsaccessible to said wipers, a terminal, multiple connections fromalternate contacts of the first bank to said terminal, and multipleconnections from non-corresponding alternate contacts of the secondbankto said terminal.

13. In an impulse genera-ting device, a conductor, means forperiodically connecting a source of current to said conductor, astepby-step switch controlled over said conductor, four wipers for theswitch, four sets of bank contacts accessible to said wipers, terminals,multiple connections from odd contacts of the first bank to the firstterminal, multiple connections from the even contacts of the second bankto said first terminal, multiple connections from every fifth contact ofthe third bank to the second terminal, and 16 multiple connections froma single contact of the fourth bank to the third terminal.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of March,1925.

MICHAEL SCHWARTZ.

